Father of 4 killed after rescuing fellow villager from attackers

Forty-four-year-old Joseph Forde, a contractor of Middle Street, Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was chopped and shot to death by a group of men who were angered by his intervention to rescue a fellow villager from their brutal attacks.
The man’s wife, Shewanna Burnett, told Guyana Times that, on Tuesday, her husband was heading to the Plaisance Line Top when he came across four men who were brutally assaulting a resident. He was riding his bicycle at the time, so he dismounted and went to the man’s aid. Forde reportedly rescued the man and transported him to the hospital for treatment.
Since the occurrence of this incident, the woman explained, her husband had been subjected to threats from the group.
On Thursday, at around 21:00h, Forde left his home to go to the Plaisance Railway Embankment, and while there, he was attacked by the same group of men. He reportedly was forcibly removed from his bicycle and badly beaten before being chopped about his body. He reportedly was eventually shot by one of the suspects.
Forde’s wife explained that she was at home when she received news of the incident. And upon rushing to the scene, she saw her husband’s motionless body lying in a pool of blood. He was later pronounced dead.
“My husband was a quiet person; anyone can attest to that. He had a passion for helping and rescuing people. I demand justice for him! They’ve taken him away from his family, from his children,” the grieving woman expressed.
She also revealed that one suspect has been arrested following the incident, while the others remain at large.
“My husband and I have been living together for over 20 years. We have three girls: 19, and a twin that is 15, and one boy that is 17. I am trying to hold up for my children. My children are not taking this well. My son is supposed to be writing CXC next couple of days from now, so this is very hard for him. My husband was a very respectable person”, the woman has said.